From PAUL OSUYI, Asaba
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said that his administration was implementing measures to cushion the effect of the crumbling oil price at the international market on the state’s economy.
The governor gave the assurance in Asaba while declaring open a one-day export promotion workshop organised by the Benin Zonal Office of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
Represented by his Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, Uduaghan observed that the measures were anchored on the ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ initiative aimed at diversifying the state’s economy by developing its non-oil sector.
He explained that the falling oil price was a reminder that the economic salvation of the Nigerian state depended largely on massive development and promotion of the non-oil export sub-sector.
According to him, the state has established a robust relationship with the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the organised private sector towards enhancing agricultural production such as cassava, tomatoes, fish, plantain, yam, among others.
“Currently, four fish feed mills, six cassava processing mills for the production of garri, starch, chips and pellets are in advanced stages across the state,” he stated.
Source : SunOnline